Stephen Curry has been sidelined with a knee injury and is anticipated to rejoin the Golden State Warriors lineup only after the All-Star break. As the team navigates a challenging stretch in the Western Conference, Curry is preparing to lead the squad in their bid for a playoff push.
The Athletic’s Nick Friedell shared insights on the Steiny & Guru show on 95.7 The Game, explaining that Curry is motivated by the widespread doubt surrounding Golden State’s chances this season. Despite the skepticism, the veteran guard remains focused on helping his team in the postseason.
They want to make sure that when he gets back, this isn’t a recurring issue,
Friedell said of Curry.
…Steph is well aware that everybody’s written him off. The entire team knows, hey, nobody thinks we can win. Nobody thinks we can do anything. That’s one of the most competitive dudes I’ve ever seen. He knows that everybody’s sitting there going, I can’t make anything happen this year.
Again, that doesn’t mean they’re going to go make some insane run to the finals. What that does mean is he’s gearing himself up to make that push in the playoffs because we all agree he doesn’t have that many left.
Over the last five games, Curry has missed action, with the Warriors losing three of those contests in his absence.
Progress Updates Indicate Curry’s Condition Is Improving
Following the Warriors’ recent 126-113 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, head coach Steve Kerr offered an optimistic update on Curry’s health status. Kerr noted that Curry is showing signs of improvement but will continue to be evaluated daily before returning to action.
I talked to Steph earlier, and he said he was feeling better, so he’s trending in a good direction, but it’ll be just day-to-day when he comes back,
Kerr said.
This season, Curry has appeared in 39 games, averaging 27.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per outing, with shooting splits of 46.8% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc. Maintaining his health and maximizing on-court time will be crucial as Golden State eyes a strong postseason campaign.
With Jimmy Butler ruled out, the Warriors’ potential success in the playoffs largely hinges on Curry and Kristaps Porzingis returning to near full strength.
Curry Set to Return After All-Star Break as Warriors Eye Playoff Position
On February 9, during his postgame news conference after a narrow 114-113 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, Kerr confirmed that Curry is expected to resume playing following the All-Star break. However, the coach emphasized that Curry’s availability will remain day-to-day depending on his recovery progress.
That’s the hope (after the break),
Kerr said.
It’s really kind of a day-to-day thing. So it’s hard to predict for sure whether he’ll be playing in that first game after the break, but that’s definitely the hope. The idea is, if he can get through everything this week, then that puts him on pace to be playing then.
Currently, Golden State holds the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings, trailing the Los Angeles Lakers in sixth place by four games. A strong finish in the regular season could help the Warriors avoid the play-in tournament, making Curry’s presence on the court vital.
Ensuring both Curry and Porzingis remain healthy will be the foremost challenge for Golden State as they aim to solidify their postseason aspirations and make a meaningful impact in the playoffs.
"Steph is well aware that everybody's written them off… he's gearing himself up to make that push in the playoffs because we all agree he doesn't have that many left."
– @NickFriedell via @SteinyGuru957. pic.twitter.com/67E1CQYvUh
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) February 12, 2026
Here’s Steve Kerr on the Warriors heading into the break at 29-26
He said Kristaps Porzingis played live again today in the facility and was moving better than yesterday pic.twitter.com/z9TP5ebZj0
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 12, 2026
